Schriever Air Force Base

File:Schriever AFB.jpg

Aerial view of Schriever Air Force Base

Schriever Air Force Base (Schriever AFB) is a base of the United States Air Force located approximately 10 miles (16 kilometers) east of Peterson AFB near Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States.

Overview

This Air Force Base is named in honor of General Bernard Adolph Schriever, who pioneered in the development of the American ballistic missile programs. It is the home of the 50th Space Wing of the Air Force Space Command, and this base provides command and control for over 170 Department of Defense warning, navigational, and communications satellites. Also housed at Schriever AFB are the Missile Defense Integration and Operations Center and the Space Innovation & Development Center. Schriever AFB is the main control point for the Global Positioning System (GPS). Schriever AFB is manned by more than 8100 active duty and guard/reserve personnel, civilian employees, and contractors.

Units

Source: USAF Schriever AFB

• 50th Space Wing
• some medical personnel from the 21st Medical Group
• 310th Space Wing (AFRC)
• Space Innovation and Development Center
• Missile Defense Agency's Missile Defense Integration and Operations Center, formerly named the Joint National Integration Center (JNIC)
• 527th Space Aggressor Squadron, geographically separated from the 57th Wing
• AFOTEC Det. 4
• Space and Missile Defense Command-Space and Ballistic Missile Defense Forces (JFCC-IMD)
• U.S. Army 100th Missile Defense Brigade (GMD)
• Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 53rd Signal Battalion
• Detachment 1, 392d Training Squadron
• Detachment 11, Space and Missile Systems Center
• Detachment 12, 1st Space Test Squadron
• 11th Space Warning Squadron

History

Source: USAF Schriever AFB

Groundbreaking for what would become Schriever Air Force Base took place in May 1983. It was originally called the Consolidated Space Operations Center (CSOC) during the development phase, and was renamed Falcon Air Force Station upon becoming operational. In July 1985 the 2nd Space Wing was activated at Peterson AFB and in September 1985, the organization relocated to Falcon Air Force Station (now Schriever Air Force Base), and 230 Air Force members, civilian employees, and contractors moved into its 12 new buildings. This wing took operational control of the Air Force Satellite Control Network in a phased system turn over that began in October 1987 and lasted several years.

In June 1988, Falcon Air Force Station was redesignated Falcon Air Force Base. On 30 January 1992 the 2nd Space Wing inactivated and the 50th Tactical Fighter Wing, redesignated as the 50th Space Wing, activated at Falcon AFB.

On 5 June 1998, Falcon Air Force Base was renamed Schriever Air Force Base in honor of the retired General Bernard Adolph Schriever, who pioneered in the development of the American ballistic missile programs. Schriever AFB is the only Air Force base that was named for an Air Force veteran who was living at the time. General Schriever died June 20, 2005.

See also

• Communications satellites
• Milstar
• Satellite navigation systems
• SolarStrong

External links

• Schriever Air Force Base website
• History of Schriever Air Force Base
• Schriever AFB Installation Overview from AirForceUSA.org.